Chapter Seventy-Five: A Duel Arranged

Relying on the prestige of the Marquis of Martial Valor’s household, Chu Qingyun took charge atop Azure Sun Peak, commanding his followers to seize the unconscious Daoist Qingxu and the other disciples of the Mysterious Truth Monastery. With that done, the assembled crowd began to tidy the chaos that reigned within the main hall of the Danxia Sect.

Yang Zheng and the other disciples of Azure Sun Peak, implicated by their association with the Mysterious Truth Monastery, had no choice but to submit. Mo Zhanpeng and his disciples sealed their vital points and escorted them to the rear courtyard of the main hall for safekeeping.

Qi Fei, seeing the situation was settled, worried for Xu Yi and the other outer disciples left on guard outside. He was just about to leave the hall to check on them when, unexpectedly, he was blocked by Chu Yanran.

Qi Fei’s heart tightened. He wondered why Chu Yanran, with her unfathomable cultivation, would stop him at this moment.

“Miss Chu, to what do I owe the honor?” Qi Fei steadied himself and managed a slight smile.

Chu Yanran regarded Qi Fei with a suspicious gaze, her tone cool. “You’ve also broken through to the Innate Martial Realm?”

Qi Fei’s heart skipped a beat, but he replied with calm assurance, “Indeed, today I shattered the bottleneck of the Innate Realm in a desperate moment and achieved the Martial Innate stage. Still, compared to your own divine abilities, I am far from your equal.”

“There’s something unusual about the innate qi within you. What kind of martial spirit have you awakened?” Chu Yanran’s eyes were filled with astonishment and doubt.

Qi Fei thought to himself that this was a troublesome turn. Even if he were uninjured, he would hardly be a match for Chu Yanran. Should she discern the secret of his hidden treasure, disaster would surely follow.

At that moment, Chu Qingyun stepped forward to defuse the situation. “Aunt, please don’t trouble Qi Fei further. He’s gravely wounded from his life-and-death battle with the Mysterious Truth Monastery’s experts. If you wish to test his skills, let it wait for another day.”

“Very well. When you’ve recovered, you and I shall spar.” Chu Yanran’s tone was decisive as she turned away.

Chu Qingyun shook his head and sighed, “Qi Fei, don’t take offense. My aunt is obsessed with martial arts. Seeing your cultivation, she can’t help but want to test herself against you.”

Qi Fei let out a long breath, inwardly noting that Chu Yanran was much like that martial arts fanatic senior brother from the School of Yin-Yang, whom he had once deceived to trick Sima Yan.

Upon reflection, Qi Fei thought that to cross swords with a master of Chu Yanran’s caliber might not be such a bad thing. Yet she seemed to have ties to the Seven Absolutes Sect, and her abilities were so profound that even Daoist Cangsong, at the peak of transformation, was no match for her. Even if he and Zhuo Jin’er joined forces, they likely would not prevail. He wondered what countermeasures the sorceress of the Yin-Yang School might have prepared.

“Aunt, why did you leave the Marquis’s household without a word? And why have you joined forces with the Seven Absolutes Sect against the Mysterious Truth Monastery?” Chu Qingyun, full of confusion, pressed her for answers.

Chu Yanran replied slowly, “Qingyun, today’s events were not for you to interfere with. Now that Daoist Cangsong lies dead by my hand, should Chu Huaiyuan seek you out for answers, tell him to come find me atop Moonwatch Peak. With order restored to Azure Sun Peak, I must return to my cultivation there.”

Without waiting for Chu Qingyun to urge her to stay, Chu Yanran leapt away and swiftly vanished beyond the main hall.

Seeing Chu Yanran depart from Azure Sun Peak, Qi Fei’s heart finally settled. Still worried for Xu Yi and the others, he clasped his hands in a gesture of respect to Sima Yan, who glared at him, then hurriedly left the main hall.

Outside the hall, ruin and death were everywhere—fallen disciples of the Mysterious Truth Monastery and Azure Sun Peak alike. However, upon closer inspection, Qi Fei noticed that there were no bodies belonging to the sect’s outer courtyard disciples.

Just then, cries for help arose from the thicket beside the main hall.

Qi Fei hurried toward the sound and found Xu Yi and the other outer disciples of Danxia Sect, their faces pale with terror, seemingly trapped by a mystical barrier.

Qi Fei thought to himself that with their meager skills, Xu Yi and the others would not have survived without Zhuo Jin’er’s intervention. Though ruthless in her methods, she was, at least, true to her word.

Circulating his innate energy, Qi Fei prepared to break the barrier when a familiar, petulant voice sounded in his ear.

“So, Qi Fei, you dared to link me with that old Sima Yan? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you for it?”

Noting that Xu Yi and the others seemed oblivious, Qi Fei understood at once that Zhuo Jin’er was using a secret voice transmission technique.

Moments before, Sima Yan’s relentless pursuit had forced Qi Fei to improvise, using Zhuo Jin’er’s name to make Sima Yan retreat. He hadn’t expected Zhuo Jin’er’s keen senses to catch on, and now this sorceress of the Yin-Yang School was here to demand an explanation—a consequence he could hardly deny.

With a wave of innate energy, Qi Fei broke the barrier trapping Xu Yi and the others, and quickly said, “The villains of the Mysterious Truth Monastery and Yang Zheng have already been subdued. Master will inherit the sect leadership—go now and help tidy up the main hall.”

Hearing this, Xu Yi and his companions cheered. With their lives no longer in peril and Elder Mo about to assume the sect’s leadership, they rushed into the main hall in high spirits.

Qi Fei glanced around and sighed softly. “Miss Zhuo, you are truly daring, lingering here on Azure Sun Peak. Aren’t you afraid someone will see through your disguise?”

Zhuo Jin’er, now back in her female attire, leapt down from a tree beside Qi Fei, arching an eyebrow. “None of these so-called experts on Azure Sun Peak can match me. If not, how could I have deceived them all within the main hall? But you—slandering my reputation at every turn—how do you plan to answer for it?”

“That was a desperate measure for a dire situation, Miss Zhuo. If you wish to hold me accountable, I am at your disposal,” Qi Fei replied with unruffled calm, well acquainted with her temperament.

Zhuo Jin’er, clearly not ready to let him off, pressed further. “Why is it that every time you’re in trouble, your solution involves taking advantage of me?”

Glancing toward the main hall not far away, Qi Fei quickly changed the subject. “This is no place to linger. You should leave for now, Miss Zhuo. I’ll make amends to you later.”

A hint of mischief flashed in Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes as she boldly took Qi Fei’s arm. “Didn’t the young Marquis of Martial Valor just rescue me from Sima Yan and hand me over to you? Why not walk in with me openly and attend the ceremony together?”

Qi Fei’s expression grew serious as he refused, “I know your strength well, but the crisis has passed. Why insist on returning to the sect’s main hall?”

“Though you used my name to drive Sima Yan away, the Seven Absolutes Sect’s master may well want to silence you. Even if you’re under Chu Qingyun’s protection for now, what if Sima Yan returns before you’ve recovered from your wounds? Do you understand my intention now?” Zhuo Jin’er shot Qi Fei a sidelong look, clearly annoyed.

Qi Fei was quick-witted and immediately grasped her meaning. If Sima Yan saw him and Zhuo Jin’er return together, he would be shocked and wary. Even if Chu Qingyun were no longer present, Sima Yan would think twice before moving against him in the future.

“Miss Zhuo, I’ll never forget your help today. But Chu Qingyun and the others are unlikely to believe my earlier story about Sima Yan. If you accompany me into the hall, you must be on your guard,” Qi Fei said solemnly, clasping his hands.

Zhuo Jin’er pouted. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Just don’t take advantage of me again the next time you’re in trouble.”

Qi Fei smiled faintly, unable to refute her. “Please, after you, Miss Zhuo.”

To intimidate Sima Yan and make him back off, Qi Fei entered the main hall with Zhuo Jin’er on his arm, immediately drawing the attention of all present.

Dressed in her feminine garb, Zhuo Jin’er was breathtakingly beautiful, her every gesture exuding charm. Even the worldly Chu Qingyun was secretly astonished.

Only Sima Yan, master of the Seven Absolutes Sect, was truly alarmed, his face draining of color at the sight of Qi Fei and Zhuo Jin’er entering together.

If news spread that he had colluded with demonic cultists to frame the Mysterious Truth Monastery, there would be no place for him in the world. Why did this sorceress of the Yin-Yang School keep aiding Qi Fei against him? Was she not afraid of bringing calamity upon herself?

Watching the composed Zhuo Jin’er, the crowd marveled in secret—how had this seemingly delicate young woman escaped disaster when even the disciples of the Mysterious Truth Monastery had gone mad outside? Could it be that she too possessed some profound, hidden cultivation?

Noticing the strange expression on Sima Yan’s face, the crowd grew uneasy. The master of the Seven Absolutes Sect seemed to hold this woman in great fear—just who was she?

Truly, the events on Azure Sun Peak today had been one strange occurrence after another.